2 weeks Ago
Raquel Benitah lives by the motto “Do things you love and you’ll find friends.” That’s how Benitah, who calls fountain Diet Coke from McDonald’s her “holy grail,” met her new bestie Markelya Skelly. When was going viral on TikTok, Benitah, a content creator in Toronto, decided she would film herself taste-testing the drink.
A combination of pop, syrups and creams, the sugary concoction experienced a surge in popularity earlier this year, thanks in part to Hulu’s “ ” Naturally, Benitah headed to McDonald’s for the most important ingredient: Diet Coke. At the drive-thru window, she was greeted by Skelly, who noticed Benitah was vlogging in her car. “I told her I was trying the ‘Mormon Wives’ soda,” Benitah, 26, tells TODAY.
com. Skelly, a fan of the reality series, knew exactly what Benitah was talking about. “We had an instant connection,” Benitah says, noting that she was drawn to Skelly’s “amazing energy.
” Since Benitah’s camera was rolling, their wholesome exchange was captured on video. Benitah would later , where it racked up over 12 million views, catapulting Skelly to internet stardom. Benitah’s followers couldn’t get enough of Skelly’s infectious smile and bubbly demeanor.
In the clip, Skelly confesses that she’s hesistant to try dirty soda, and offers Benitah a recommendation. “You know what tastes delicious?” Skelly says in the clip. “Coke Zero and root beer.
” Benitah is intrigued. “I’m gonna try it,” she says. “I’ll report back.
” “Ya’ll seemed like you been friends for years,” one person wrote in the comments. Added another, “I love how we all witnessed instant besties.” The next day, Benitah returned to the McDonald’s, eager to reunite with Skelly.
“I’m single. Markelya is single. Everyone is always telling us to shoot our shot when it comes to dating — but why not do it with potential friends, too?” Benitah says.
“So I was like, ‘I’m gonna shoot my shot with this girl, and we’ll see what happens.’” Skelly was just as excited to see Benitah. She, too, had been thinking about their easy rapport.
“Over the last few years I’ve become super introverted, and it’s hard for me to make new friends,” Skelly says. “But I immediately felt comfortable with Raquel.” Benitah and Skelly are now inseparable.
During their phone call with TODAY.com, they discuss upcoming plans to check out a local Christmas market. Skelly is now a frequent guest star in Benitah’s videos, and .
“I’m stepping out of my comfort zone,” Skelly says. “I’m learning to put myself out there a little more. “One thing that Markelya said to me when we first hung out was that people treat drive-thru employees a certain way, like they’re less than,” Benitah says.
“And that broke my heart.” “I’m so grateful for Raquel,” Skelly says. As for that Coke Zero and root beer combo that Skelly suggested? “Loved it!” Benitah exclaims.
“I thought it tasted like bubble gum.” Rachel Paula Abrahamson is a lifestyle reporter who writes for the parenting, health and shop verticals. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and elsewhere.
Rachel lives in the Boston area with her husband and their two daughters. Follow her on ..
